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“Nah. I’ll drive. You better be here when Tex gets home from work. He’ll need cheering up.” She jumped down from the chair and smiled at her daughter, then gave her a hug. “Have I ever told you you’re the best daughter a mother could ever hope to have?”

Marge choked up a little, and said,“And you’re the best mom a girl could have, Ma.”

“Thanks, honey.” She took Marge’s face between her hands. “Now don’t you worry about a thing, you hear? I’m gonna fix this and we’re all gonna be just fine.”

“I love you, Ma.”

“And I love you,” said her mother, and darted down the stairs like a young foal.

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Arriving at the Soul Science center, Vesta was in a cheerful mood. The day was still warm, as the sun was gradually setting behind the buildings, and as she locked the car and made her way to the Excelsior building, she was smiling to herself. She hadn’t lied to Marge. She really was feeling those butterflies. She’d half expected Omar to call her to confirm their date, and maybe to suggest he pick her up, but then the guy had probably been busy all day talking to new converts and generally being a great church leader.

Probably tough to launch a new religion, especially since the field was so crowded already. Most religions had been around for a couple thousand years, with even the latest ones having cornered the market several decades ago. Then again, if anyone could do it, it was Omar. The guy had charisma up the wazoo, even though he looked like a man who might suggest at any moment to do your tax return. He had thatje-ne-sais-quoi that made all the difference when picking a religious leader. Or your future husband.

She rang the front doorbell and to her surprise Scarlett Canyon came walking up the stairs behind her, dressed to the nines, which in her case meant her face was painted like a clown’s and her dress had a hard time keeping her twin balloons from popping out.

“What are you doing here?” asked Vesta.

“Probably the same thing you’re doing,” said Scarlett with a smirk. “Omar called me and asked me to meet him here.”

“That’s impossible,” said Vesta. “I’m meeting Omar.”

“Well, looks like this is going to be one of those double dates. Or even a trio.”

“Yuck,” said Vesta disgustedly. “Why does everything always have to revolve around sex with you, Scarlett? Sex, sex, sex. Is that really all you can think about?”

“I never even mentioned sex! It’s you that’s oversexed, Vesta, with your dirty mind.”

Vesta would have said more, for she had strong opinions on the subject and was eager to voice them, but the door opened and Jaqlyn Jones appeared.“Oh, there you are,” he said a little dismissively. Then his eye caught Scarlett and a wolfish grin appeared on his handsome face. “Why, Miss Canyon. Do come in. Omar is expecting you.”

Both Vesta and Scarlett walked in, elbowing each other as they muscled to move through the door first. And as Scarlett sped up to join Jaqlyn, linking her arm through his, Vesta’s mood turned homicidal and she grabbed her rival’s hair to yank her back.

“Will you… just let me…” Scarlett hissed, and tried to shove Vesta, who gave her a shove in return.

And both ladies were still engaged in a tug of war when they burst into the main room, and Vesta saw to her surprise that Omar was seated at the head of the table, along with his entire inner circle.

She gaped at the scene, taken aback.

Omar got up.“Ah, the ladies of the hour have arrived.” He drew back a chair. “My dear Vesta. I’ve had my people wrangle us up a bigger table, just to make room for you. Will you take a seat? And you, of course, Scarlett.”

Scarlett saw the look on Vesta’s face and cackled with laughter. Vesta punched her on the arm and blurted out, “But I thought we had a date?”

“A date?” asked Omar, a look of confusion on his face. “What do you mean?”

Titters rose up amongst those present, and heat was rising up Vesta’s neck, then seeping into her face. Soon she was blushing to the roots of her hair.

Jaqlyn grinned and said,“I think Vesta thought you asked her out on a date, Master.”

Omar looked appalled, and that sealed the deal for Vesta. Stiffly, she said,“I’m afraid I’m going to have to politely decline, sir,” and with as much of her dignity intact as possible, turned on her heel and strode out.

Chapter 21

Odelia had been trying all day to get a hold of the Jason Max had pinpointed as a possible weak link in the Soul Science machinery. Unfortunately the man was tough to track down. She’d asked Dan to call Soul Science in his official capacity asGazette editor, and ask for an interview with Master Omar, then casually slip in a request to talk to any security people he might have in his employ, as he was writing an article about bodyguarding and wanted to have an insider’s view, but the person on the other end had simply declined any requests for an interview and abruptly terminated communications.